Film
What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases
Bookmark this pageA Man Called Hero (1999)
Director: Andrew Lau
Movie review
From Time Out Film Guide
The follow-up to Stormriders is based on an earlier comic by Ma Wing-Shing (a 150-part graphic novel, the most influential ever published in HK), but it minimises the sword'n sorcery aspects in an apparent effort to go beyond the earlier film. Instead it goes for an Ellis Island storyline about indentured Chinese labourers in the New World and the struggle to establish a New York Chinatown, with a brief prologue in China and a flashback to Japan to cover the mystic kung-fu and clan leadership bases. But the script makes little geographical, chronological or dramatic sense and the digitally effected fight scenes are the only real reason to watch, although the climactic duel on the Statue of Liberty is less impressively visualised than two scraps with ninja.Author: TR
Cast & crew
Director: Andrew Lau
Producer: Manfred Wong, Barbie Tung
Cast: Ekin Cheng, Kristy Yang, Nicholas Tse, Shu Qi, Francis Ng, Yuen Biao, Jerry Lamb, Anthony Wong full cast
Genre(s): Fantasy
Duration: 105 mins
Most popular on this site
Top Stories
Stephen Poliakoff discusses 'Glorious 39'
Stephen Poliakoff’s ‘Glorious 39’ is his first film for cinema since ‘Food of Love’ in 1997. Dave Calhoun met him
Is 'Paranormal Activity' the new 'Blair Witch'?
How does a film go from DIY experiment to box-office smash? 'Paranormal Activity' director Oren Peli explains
Steven Soderbergh on 'The Informant!' and 'The Girlfriend Experience'
We talk to Steven Soderbergh about his two forthcoming films: one featuring a porn star, the other a chubby Matt Damon
A gateway to all things 'New Moon'
In anticipation of 'The Twilight Saga: New Moon', Time Out is offering the chance to pick up a limited edition pack with three exclusive magazines and a free poster.
London Children's Film Festival
Read our exclusive reviews of films playing at the 2009 London Children’s Film Festival
The films that deserve a TV spin-off
With Roland Emmerich suggesting he'd like to make a '2012' TV spin-off, we propose some more movie-to-TV serialisations
The Coen brothers discuss 'A Serious Man'
Masters of contrary comedy, Joel and Ethan Coen have struck gold again with their latest, ‘A Serious Man’
Michael Haneke discusses 'The White Ribbon'
Dave Calhoun met with Michael Haneke in Munich to mull over the details of his Palme d'Or winner, 'The White Ribbon'
Ten inspirations behind 'Avatar'?
Time Out ponders the influences behind James Cameron's anticipated space-opera on the basis of the trailer
Time Out's 50 greatest animated films with commentary by Terry Gilliam
In celebration of the release of Pixar's 'Up' and Wes Anderson's 'Fantastic Mr Fox', read our rundown of fifty classic feature length animations
What do you think?
Post your review now